Package for light-sensitive photographic materials



Jan. 17, 1939. E. P. FLYNN 2,144,453

PACKAGE ,FOR LIGHT-SENSITIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS Filed June 28, 1958 PAPER 0F CONTRASTING COLOR, INERT T0 LIGHT-SENSITIVE EMULSIONS 3i WWW EDWARD P. FLYNN Patented Jan. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PACKAGE FOR LIGHT-SENSITIVE PHOTO- GRAPHIC MATERIALS Edward P. Flynn, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a v corporation of New Jersey Application June 28, 193mm. No. 216,389

This invention relates to photography and more particularly to packages for light-sensitive photographic materials.

One object of my invention is to provide a package for light-sensitive photographic mate rials in which the liability of light -leaking into the package is greatlyminimized. Another object of my invention is to provide a package of the class described, in which a duplex paper envelope is employed for receiving the sensitized materials, one side of the duplex paper selected primarily for excluding light and the other side of the duplex being selected of material which 4 Claims.

is inert toward the light-sensitive photographicmaterial adapted to be contained in the package. Another object of my invention is to provide a duplex envelope of relatively heavy springy material and to provide fold lines in the, envelope so arranged that the springy material of the envelope willtend to close the opening and will normally hold the opening of the envelope closed in a light-tight manner even when the envelope is not contained in a second envelope which forms a complete package. Another object of my invention is to provide a duplex paper envelope in which the opaque outer layer of the paper may contain any suitable heavy pigment or dye which w ll prevent the entrance of light into the envelope and to provide a lining on the duplex paper cnvelopeof a material of contrasting color to the outside of the envelope as well asfinert toward 7 the light-sensitive photographic material, whereby loading of the light-sensitive photographic material into the duplex paper envelope in a dark room is facilitated. Still another object of my invention is to provide a package including two envelopes each of a shape other than square, one envelope having an opening along the short side and the other envelope having an opening along the long side so that when the two envelopes are inserted, the flap of the inner envelope will be definitely heldin a closed position byvthe walls of the outer envelope, andother objects willv appear from'the following specification, the novel features being particularly pointed out in the claims at the end thereof Coming now to the drawing, wherein likeref rence characters denote like parts throughout:.

v Fig. 1, is a plan view of; the outside of a package for photographic light-sensitive material constructed in a'ccordancewith and "embodying a '5 preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a' perspective lview. of the material package of Fig. 1 with the inner envelope partially withdrawn from the, outer envelope.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of the inner envelope shown in the preceding figures, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through a suitable duplex paper which is preferably used for the inner envelope.

The packaging of light-sensitive photographic materials is quite a problem because in packages such as the packages used for light-sensitive photographic paper and for sheets of cut film, the user frequently removes only one sheet at a time and. the remaining sheets are not always replaced properly in an outer container inorder to adequately protect them against light, particularly the intermittent use of' light suflicient to leg such materials in a dark room.

It has been customary to pack such materials,

"dropped out the end of the-inner envelope as it is drawn from the outer envelope, and it frequently cccurs that in the darkroom, an operator will place the envelope flaps in such a manner that they lie together, in which case light can readily enter.

Moreover, there has been considerable difiiculty I in the past in obtaining a suitable opaque paper of material which will not fog the light-sensitive photographic emulsions carried by the photo: graphic materials. For instance, certain types of carbon black which is a usual pigment for op'aque'paper may sometimes fog such materials if the emulsions are placed in contact with the black p gment under unsuitable atmospheric conditions. Many of the black dyes which may be used are also liable to cause difficulties.

I have overcome the above-mentioned difficulties by providing a package which includes a duple'x'paper envelope, the outer side .of which may contain anysuitable heavy pigmentwhich is opaque to light or even a dyed heavy paper 7 base, if necessary, such a layer being laminated to a second paper surface which is particularly selected of,material;whic h is inert toward the light-sensitive photographic emulsions. This ing the length 2 somewhat greater than the width velope and initially loading the paper in the envelope in the very dim light of a darkroom.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the'package may comprise an outer envelope I, in this instance hav- 3. A flap 4 is permanently fastened in place at. one end, and a second flap 5, which may be sealed when it leaves the factory by a paster 6, is adapted to open to perniit sheets of light-sensitive photographic material to be withdrawn. These sheets are normally carried in a second duplex paper envelope 7, the outside dimensions of which, when folded as shown in Fig. 2, are such that the envelope may slip readily into the envelope I. In this instance the width of the envelope 8 is some- .what less than the length of the envelope. 9, when folded, and a flap l extends along the long side of the envelope. Thus, when the flap is folded and the. envelope is inserted, there is no possibility of this flap lying adjacent the flap of the outer envelope, and consequently, light is definitely prevented from entering the package.

The envelope 1 is provided with a fiap ill as shown, but it does not rely on this fiap for closing the opening through which the sheets of lightsensitive material may be removed. As indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the front wall II and the back wall l2 of this envelope are provided with sharp creases at 13 and i4, these creases forming fold lines so that portions of the walls l5 and I6 which form the side walls of the envelope, because of the springy nature of the material, always tend to turn the fiap in the direction shown by the arrow 3, in which position the opening is definitely closed against the admission of light. Thus, not only does the envelope tend to close itself, but when inits outer envelope, the folded wall portions are definitely held in a closed position.

The duplex paper may be as indicated in Fig. 5, that is, there may be an inner layer l6 of paper which may be white, red, green, tan or any other suitable color and which is selected of material inert with respect to light-sensitive photographic material. onto a second or outer layer I! which contains, preferably, a heavy opaque pigment or a suitable filler or dye which definitely prevents light from passing through this layer of the paper.

In addition, it is very desirable to have a coating 18 on the outside of the opaque paper layer, this coating being waterproof, such as may be formed by a suitable wax, cellulosic lacquer or the like. Thus, the paper which is built up of a number of layers not only is springy and resilient, but it has the desired qualities of being inert with respect to photographic material and impervious to. light rays.

It has been found that when the inner envelope 1 is withdrawn from the outer envelope I, because of the fold lines l3 and I4 which are impresed in the envelope, the fiap I0 tends to lie flat against the envelope. Thus, the walls l5 and 16 form a light seal for the envelope and such an envelope is safe even in a bright light. In adarkroom, single sheets of material may be removed by straightening out the fiap so it will lie substantially in the plane of the envelope and withdrawing the sensitive materials between the walls l5 and I6. However, as soon as the envelope is laid down, even if the operator is careless and does This layer is laminated not close the flap, it will swing, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3', through the resiliency of the material to bring the walls II and [6' together and thus form a satisfactory light-tight closure for the envelope.

What I claim asmy invention and, desire to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A package for light-sensitive photographic materials comprising a duplex paper envelope having on one side a paper inert towards photographic materials and ,on the opposite side an opaque paper through which light rays may not penetrate, the length of the envelope being greater than the width, a flap along an open side of the envelope, a fold inside of the flap whereby a part of two walls of the envelope are adapted to fold with the fiap to make a light-tight fold, a second envelope larger than the first, having an opening and flap so positioned as to be at right angles to the flap of the first-mentioned envelope when the first-mentioned envelope is inserted in'the second-mentioned envelope, where- .by the length of the fold and flap of the firstmentioned envelope may be held definitely in a closed or folded position.

2. A package for light-sensitive photographi materials comprising a duplex paper-envelope having on one side a paper inert towards photographic materials and on the opposite side an opaque paper through which light rays may not penetrate, said side which is inert toward photograppic light-sensitive material being of lighter color than the opaque side of the paper, the length of the envelope being greater than the width, a flap along an open side of the envelope, a fold inside of the fiap whereby a part of two walls of the envelope are adapted to fold with the flap to make a light-tight fold, a second envelope larger than the first having an opening and fiap so positioned as to be at right angles to the flap of the first-mentioned envelope when the firstmentioned envelope is inserted in the secondmentionedenvelope, whereby the length of the fold and flap of the first-mentioned envelope may be held definitely in a closed or folded position.

3. A package for light-sensitive photographic materials comprising a duplex paper envelope having on one side a paper inert towards photo graphic materials and on the opposite side an opaque paper through which light rays may not penetrate, said opaque side of the paper being spaced from the film by the inert side of the paper, a layer of waterproofing materialcarried by the opaque side of the paper, the length of the envelope being greater than the width, a

cud-mentioned envelope, whereby the length of.

the fold and flap of the first-mentioned envelope may be held definitely in a closed or folded position.

4. A package for light-sensitive photographic materials comprising a duplex paper envelope graphic materials and on the opposite side an vhaving on one side a paper inert towards photoopaque paper through which light rays may not the envelope, 9. fold inside of the flap whereby a part of two walls of the envelope are adapted to fold with the flap to make a light-tight iold, the duplex paper comprising relatively heavy and springy stock whereby the two folded walls of the envelope always tend to close the opening adjacent the flap to exclude light therefrom, a second envelope larger than the first having an opening and flap so positioned as to be at right angles to the flap of the first-mentioned envelope when the first-mentioned envelope is inserted in the second-mentioned envelope, whereby the length of thefold and flap of the first-mentioned envelope may be held definitely in a. closed or folded position. v

\ EDWARD P. FLYNN; 

